SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When money is tight, people have to cut back on spending. It's the same for the state of California. Right now, lawmakers and the governor are trying to figure out what to cut, and some Californians are hoping funding for homelessness is not on the chopping block.
"Solutions to homelessness are not something that we can find only when we have a surplus or only when we feel like it," said Alex Visotzky with the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
A group of advocates and lawmakers called on the legislature to continue to work on finding and funding a solution to end the homelessness crisis. With the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) estimating the state deficit at $58 billion this year, this group believes making additional cuts is not an option.
"If the legislature is going to cut $1.2 billion, what are you saying to the people that voted you in?" asked Ronnie Williams.
This comes after voters passed Proposition 1, which allows the state to borrow nearly $6.4 billion in bonds with $2 billion of that meant to create housing. The rest will pay for new facilities for mental health and addiction treatment. Specifics on the rest of the spending will be decided later.
"Reversing the cycle of homelessness in California through ongoing funding at scale, not at the bottom," said advocate Zella Knight.
During Tuesday's snow survey with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Governor Gavin Newsom addressed Proposition 1 and the state's budget.
"We'll have a lot to say on that and the budget as we get closer to the State of the State," he said.
When the State of the State will happen and what will be cut from the budget is still to be determined, and Governor Newsom did not have much to say.
"Their house, their rules, and I'll abide by them," he said.
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